Researchers at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) are making significant progress in creating resilient and sustainable maritime infrastructure designed to endure Queensland’s challenging coastal conditions and the increasing frequency of severe weather events. Project co-lead Professor Allan Manalo highlighted the urgent need to address Queensland’s aging maritime infrastructure, which suffers from timber pile deterioration and steel pile corrosion due to environmental factors. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spends over $10 million annually on maintenance and replacement, a figure expected to rise as climate change leads to more destructive storms.
Recent floods in 2022 alone inflicted $492 million in damage to critical public infrastructure, underscoring the necessity for durable solutions. The UniSQ project aims not only to create infrastructure capable of withstanding harsh marine environments but also to promote low-carbon, sustainable construction materials. Collaborating with Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies and TMR’s Maritime Safety Queensland, and supported by the Advanced Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre, the project has reached important milestones, including filament winding trials of high-performance composites and field measurements during pile driving.
At UniSQ’s unique 8-axis filament winding facility, researchers have conducted full-scale trials using glass fibers and thermosetting resins, testing various manufacturing processes for marine structural composites. Concurrently, field trials at two Gold Coast waterfront sites involved installing and monitoring high-performance composite piles with advanced sensors. Co-lead researcher Dr. Shanika Kiriella noted that these trials provide essential insights for refining designs and offering practical guidance to engineers, ensuring the safe deployment of composite piles across Queensland and beyond.
The findings from this project will inform the design and modeling of a piled boat ramp at Kurrimine Beach and an aids-to-navigation structure at Cleveland Point, both set for construction by TMR in early 2026. Dr. Kiriella emphasized that advancements in composite manufacturing and installation methods are paving the way for a new generation of long-lasting, climate-resilient maritime infrastructure.
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